Golf fans of the inaugural US$750,000 Resorts World Manila Masters will have a chance to catch Filipino duo Angelo Que and Antonio Lascuna in action on home soil before they head to Australia to represent the Philippines in the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf.

The Resorts World Manila Masters will be staged at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club from November 14-17 and is the newest event on the Asian Tour which is celebrating its milestone 10th season in 2013.

While the best players from the region’s premier Tour are expected to tee up at the Resorts World Manila Masters, all eyes will be on the local stars including Que and Lascuna who are expected to strike a formidable partnership and make Philippines proud in Melbourne.

“It has been a while since we had an Asian Tour event at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club. I like that course and I practice there a lot. Hopefully it’ll be a good week for us Filipinos,” said Que.

A three-time Asian Tour winner, Que is upbeat of his chances at the Resorts World Manila Masters as he will compete in familiar surroundings.

“It’s always more comfortable to play at home even though they say it’s a lot of pressure but I find it easier for me as I’m at home and I don’t have to travel. I can just go home and sleep on my bed. The club’s not that far away from home as well,” said the affable Que.

Lascuna is also relishing the opportunity to play on his home course and put on a good show before he heads to Australia for a showdown with the Who’s Who of world golf.

“I’ll be playing on my home course at Manila Southwoods and it’s great that I will have the opportunity to play in such an important event before I head over to the World Cup,” said Lascuna.

Lascuna enjoyed his best ever season on the Asian Tour last year when he finished in the top-five on three occasions and ended the year in a career high of 12th place on the Order of Merit.

The 42-year-old is also eager to give a timely reminder that he can still contend at the highest level and join the exclusive group of proven winners from the Asian Tour who are in their 40s.

“I’m still fit and strong and I can still play well. These are certainly exciting times for me and I’m looking forward to playing my best golf as a good result at the Resorts World Manila Masters will ultimately give me lots of confidence at the World Cup,” said Lascuna.

This year, 30 spots will be given to players from the ever-growing Philippines Golf Tour (PGT) with the aim of further developing local golf.

As the sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour believes that partnering the PGT is important to help grow the game domestically, especially in view of golf returning into the Olympics programme in 2016.